Machine

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for inserting planar articles into packages having mouths, the apparatus comprising a bed to support a package; an opener to open the mouth of a package; a pusher to push a planar article along an article path into the package when the opener has operated, The pusher comprises a guide adapted to engage in the package mouth while guiding the article to ensure a free path for the article as it is moved into the package. The guide has a generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from an apex to an open side, and wherein the guide is mounted with the apex substantially facing the bed and the open side substantially facing the pusher, said open side providing an open slot in the article path for receiving and guiding an article and the apex being configured to enter a package mouth as an article is pushed into a package to assist separation of the leaves of a package as they guide an article. Movement of the guide is caused by a pusher action of moving an article into contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards a package. A bias spring mechanism returns the guides to a home position in the article path and ready for a next article.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an apparatus for inserting planar objects such as media discs into packages such as disc sleeves.

PRIOR ART DISCUSSION

An object of the invention is to achieve improved reliability for automated insertion of objects such as discs into packages such as sleeves or envelopes. Heretofore such insertion has been performed by pushing the article into the package. However, any irregularities in the package caused, for example by the package being previously used lead to inconsistencies in insertion of the articles in a high-speed production line.

The invention addresses this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided an apparatus for inserting planar articles into packages having mouths, the apparatus comprising:

-   -   a bed to support a package;     -   an opener to open the mouth of a package;     -   a pusher to push a planar article along an article path into the         package when the opener has operated,     -   wherein the pusher comprises a guide adapted to engage in the         package mouth while guiding the article to ensure a free path         for the article as it is moved into the package.

In one embodiment, the guide has a generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from an apex to an open side.

In one embodiment, the guide has a generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from an apex to an open side, and wherein the guide is mounted with the apex substantially facing the bed and the open side substantially facing the pusher, said open side providing an open slot in the article path for receiving and guiding an article and the apex being configured to enter a package mouth as an article is pushed into a package to assist separation of the leaves of a package as they guide an article.

In one embodiment, movement of said guide is caused by a pusher action of moving an article into contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards a package.

In one embodiment, guide movement is caused by a pusher action of moving an article into contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards a package, the guide comprises a bias spring mechanism, and said pusher action is against a bias spring force of said mechanism, and said bias spring mechanism is adapted to return the guide to a home position in the article path and ready for a next article.

In one embodiment, there is a guide on each side of the article path.

Preferably there is a guide on each side of the article path; and wherein the guides are spring biased to a default position towards said article path.

In another aspect:

-   -   the guide has a generally V-shaped configuration with side walls         splayed out from an apex to an open side,     -   the guide is mounted with the apex substantially facing the bed         and the open side substantially facing the pusher, said open         side providing an open slot in the article path for receiving         and guiding an article and the apex being configured to enter a         package mouth as an article is pushed into a package to assist         separation of the leaves of a package as they guide an article;     -   movement of said guide is caused by a pusher action of moving an         article into contact with the guide on the article path as it         moves towards a package;     -   the guide comprises a bias spring mechanism, and said pusher         action is against a bias spring force of said mechanism; said         bias spring mechanism is adapted to return the guide to a home         position in the article path and ready for a next article.     -   there is a guide on each side of the article path; and     -   the guides are spring biased to converge to a default position         towards said article path.

In one embodiment, the opener comprises at least one suction cup, a drive for moving the cup, and a vacuum system for applying suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open the mouth.

In one embodiment, the opener comprises at least one suction cup, a drive for moving the cup, and a vacuum system for applying suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open the mouth; and wherein there are at least two suction cups.

In one embodiment, the opener comprises at least one suction cup, a drive for moving the cup, and a vacuum system for applying suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open the mouth; and wherein the opener comprises suction cups for pulling opposed leaves away to open the mouth.

In one embodiment, the opener comprises at least one suction cup, a drive for moving the cup, and a vacuum system for applying suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open the mouth; and wherein the opener comprises suction cups for pulling opposed leaves away to open the mouth.

In a further embodiment, the opener and the pusher are driven by a cam mechanism providing synchronisation.

In one embodiment, the opener and the pusher are driven by a cam mechanism providing synchronisation, wherein the cam mechanism is linked with a drive to move the bed into an insertion position.

In one embodiment, the bed is on an indexed carousel.

In another aspect, the invention provides a packaging machine comprising an indexing carousel with a plurality of beds, a feed mechanism for feeding packages onto the beds, and a feed mechanism for feeding articles to an apparatus comprising:

-   -   an opener to open the mouth of a package;     -   a pusher to push a planar article along an article path into the         package when the opener has operated,     -   wherein the pusher comprises a guide adapted to engage in the         package mouth while guiding the article to ensure a free path         for the article as it is moved into the package.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method performed by an apparatus comprising a bed, and opener, and a usher, and a guide, the method being for inserting a planar article into a packages having a mouth, the method comprising:

-   -   the bed supporting a package;     -   the opener opening the mouth of a package;     -   the pusher pushing the planar article along an article path into         the package when the opener has operated, the guide engaging in         the package mouth while guiding the article to ensure a free         path for the article as it is moved into the package.

In one embodiment, the guide has a generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from an apex to an open side, and wherein the guide is mounted with the apex substantially facing the bed and the open side substantially facing the pusher, said open side providing an open slot in the article path for receiving and guiding an article and the apex being configured to enter a package mouth as an article is pushed into a package to assist separation of the leaves of a package as they guide an article.

In one embodiment, movement of said guide is caused by a pusher action of moving the article into contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards the package.

In one embodiment, guide movement is caused by a pusher action of moving an article into contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards a package, the guide comprises a bias spring mechanism, and said pusher action is against a bias spring force of said mechanism, and said bias spring mechanism returns the guide to a home position in the article path and ready for a next article.

In one embodiment, there is a guide on each side of the article path; and wherein the guides are moved by spring biased to a default position towards said article path.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:—

FIGS. 1 and 2 are front and side perspective views of a disc insertion apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view showing a pusher tool in more detail; and

FIG. 4 is a more detailed perspective view showing operation of the tool and of guides of the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings a disc insertion apparatus 1 of the invention comprises a frame 2 mounted at a location around an indexing table. The indexing table has a bed 3 for a sleeve E, to bring the sleeve E into registry with a disc D to be inserted into the sleeve E.

An opener for the apparatus is provided by suction cups 4 mounted on the frame 2 for movement by a mechanism in up-down cycles in synchronism with the movement of the indexing table.

The frame also supports a pair of opposed guides 10, each comprising a folded-over generally V-shaped metal plate shaped with the apex facing towards the bed 3, and presenting a slot to the path of a disc D as it moves towards the bed 3. The latter movement is caused by a pusher arm 20 having a lip 21 providing an inverted L-shape which traps the disc D in preparation for insertion. In this specification the pusher arm and the guides are regarded as being part of a pusher for pushing the discs into the sleeves.

The suction cups 4 are moved up and down by pneumatic actuators and the pusher arm 20 is moved in and out by a cam drive, not shown. This is a very simple drive arrangement to ensure synchronism. Rotation of the cam shaft is synchronised with rotation of the indexing table, and with application of suction to the cups 4 by a vacuum system.

In operation, the indexing table rotates to present an envelope 4 on the bed 3 to the disc insertion apparatus 1. The suction cups 4 descend into contact with the top surface of the sleeve E. Suction is applied so that the top leaf of the sleeve E is pulled to open the mouth of the sleeve. A centrally-mounted vacuum cup comes into contact with the underside of the sleeve

Just as the top leaf of the sleeve is being lifted to open the mouth of the sleeve the pusher arm 20 moves to push the disc D towards the sleeve. The disc D is supplied to this position by means of a synchronized mechanical lifter which lifts the disc from the dial plate as soon as the dial plate has indexed into position.

The movement inwardly of the disc D engages it into the guides 10, which are symmetrically arranged and spring-biased by torsion springs to the closed position. The action of the disc being pushed towards the sleeve E causes the guides 10 to rotate so that their front apexes enter into the mouth of the sleeve, hence ensuring that it is opened sufficiently and uniformly for consistent entry of the disc D into the sleeve. The arm 20 continues pushing the disc D until it is no longer in contact with the guides 10 and is fully home in the sleeve E. The bias springs of the guides bring the guides 10 back into a central default position ready for the next disc to be pushed through, and the pusher arm returns to its retracted position.

The indexing table then moves on to the next indexing position, at which there is further processing of the filled sleeve.

It will be appreciated that the invention provides a very simple, reliable, consistent, and robust apparatus for filling a disc into a sleeve. The action of the pusher arm 20 in conjunction with the guides 10 causes not only the insertion of the disc D into the sleeve, but also ensures that any non-standard sleeve which may contain folds, creases or “dog-ears” can be consistently processed in the operation of the apparatus.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described but may be varied in construction and detail. For example, the packages could be delivered to the apparatus by a supply arrangement other than an indexed carousel. It could, for example, be a linear supply arrangement with a conveyor. The apparatus may be a stand-along workstation or a part of a larger machine or group of machines. The apparatus may be configured for insertion of other types of planar articles into packages. Examples are inserting discs into envelopes or other types of packages currently used for storing discs, or inserting smaller envelopes into larger envelopes. 

1. An apparatus for inserting planar articles into packages having mouths, the apparatus comprising: a bed to support a package; an opener to open the mouth of a package; a pusher to push a planar article along an article path into the package when the opener has operated, wherein the pusher comprises a guide adapted to engage in the package mouth while guiding the article to ensure a free path for the article as it is moved into the package.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide has a generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from an apex to an open side.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the guide has a generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from an apex to an open side, and wherein the guide is mounted with the apex substantially facing the bed and the open side substantially facing the pusher, said open side providing an open slot in the article path for receiving and guiding an article and the apex being configured to enter a package mouth as an article is pushed into a package to assist separation of the leaves of a package as they guide an article.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein movement of said guide is caused by a pusher action of moving an article into contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards a package.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein guide movement is caused by a pusher action of moving an article into contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards a package, the guide comprises a bias spring mechanism, and said pusher action is against a bias spring force of said mechanism, and said bias spring mechanism is adapted to return the guide to a home position in the article path and ready for a next article.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a guide on each side of the article path.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is a guide on each side of the article path; and wherein the guides are spring biased to a default position towards said article path.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the guide has a generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from an apex to an open side, the guide is mounted with the apex substantially facing the bed and the open side substantially facing the pusher, said open side providing an open slot in the article path for receiving and guiding an article and the apex being configured to enter a package mouth as an article is pushed into a package to assist separation of the leaves of a package as they guide an article; movement of said guide is caused by a pusher action of moving an article into contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards a package; the guide comprises a bias spring mechanism, and said pusher action is against a bias spring force of said mechanism; said bias spring mechanism is adapted to return the guide to a home position in the article path and ready for a next article. there is a guide on each side of the article path; and the guides are spring biased to converge to a default position towards said article path.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opener comprises at least one suction cup, a drive for moving the cup, and a vacuum system for applying suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open the mouth.
 10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opener comprises at least one suction cup, a drive for moving the cup, and a vacuum system for applying suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open the mouth; and wherein there are at least two suction cups.
 11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opener comprises at least one suction cup, a drive for moving the cup, and a vacuum system for applying suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open the mouth; and wherein the opener comprises suction cups for pulling opposed leaves away to open the mouth.
 12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opener comprises at least one suction cup, a drive for moving the cup, and a vacuum system for applying suction to lift a sleeve leaf to open the mouth; and wherein the opener comprises suction cups for pulling opposed leaves away to open the mouth.
 13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opener and the pusher are driven by a cam mechanism providing synchronisation.
 14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opener and the pusher are driven by a cam mechanism providing synchronisation, wherein the cam mechanism is linked with a drive to move the bed into an insertion position.
 15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bed is on an indexed carousel.
 16. A packaging machine comprising an indexing carousel with a plurality of beds, a feed mechanism for feeding packages onto the beds, and a feed mechanism for feeding articles to an apparatus comprising: an opener to open the mouth of a package; a pusher to push a planar article along an article path into the package when the opener has operated, wherein the pusher comprises a guide adapted to engage in the package mouth while guiding the article to ensure a free path for the article as it is moved into the package.
 17. A method performed by an apparatus comprising a bed, and opener, and a usher, and a guide, the method being for inserting a planar article into a packages having a mouth, the method comprising: the bed supporting a package; the opener opening the mouth of a package; the pusher pushing the planar article along an article path into the package when the opener has operated, the guide engaging in the package mouth while guiding the article to ensure a free path for the article as it is moved into the package.
 18. The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the guide has a generally V-shaped configuration with side walls splayed out from an apex to an open side, and wherein the guide is mounted with the apex substantially facing the bed and the open side substantially facing the pusher, said open side providing an open slot in the article path for receiving and guiding an article and the apex being configured to enter a package mouth as an article is pushed into a package to assist separation of the leaves of a package as they guide an article.
 19. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein movement of said guide is caused by a pusher action of moving the article into contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards the package.
 20. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein guide movement is caused by a pusher action of moving an article into contact with the guide on the article path as it moves towards a package, the guide comprises a bias spring mechanism, and said pusher action is against a bias spring force of said mechanism, and said bias spring mechanism returns the guide to a home position in the article path and ready for a next article.
 21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein there is a guide on each side of the article path; and wherein the guides are moved by spring biased to a default position towards said article path. 